118 THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



lona, where two years ago you would hardly find a sheep, now 

 you will see scores of them ; and when, two years ago, not a Rook 

 ever came to the island, now the hill pastures are black with 

 them. 



Possibly the Jackdaws may steal the Chough's eggs. Some 

 bird had evidently anticipated me this spring in my visit to the 

 Eed Leg's nest ; however, I suspect the Hoody Crow more than 

 the Daw, for he is an arrant egg thief. About that very time I 

 witnessed a controversy between a pair of Sea-pyets and a Hoody 

 on this very subject. It terminated decidedly in favour of the 

 latter, as he flew off with the apple — no, the egg — of discord im- 

 paled on his bill, followed by the frantic shrieks of the two poor 

 Oyster-catchers. Peep ! peep ! peep ! The Hoody Crow's mouth 

 was too full to make a rejoinder. 



As to the tanieness or wildness of different species of birds, 

 though certainly some species are instinctively much wilder than 

 others, yet the degree must be so very much modified by the treat- 

 ment they receive in various localities that it scarcely admits of 

 generalisation. Thus, to return to my friends the Eooks, where 

 they are persecuted by the farmer owing to mistaken notions of 

 their being injurious, they become so wary that it is impossible 

 to get within range of them ; while here in lona, where we have 

 rather patronised them on account of their being strangers, we 

 have so far won their confidence that they actually come to pick 

 up crumbs and potatoes thrown from our windows. And so, of 

 course, with every other kind of bird. 



